This Is our Imperial Stout that we age in conditioning tanks with oak staves. This adds a classic character of old world aging with out the Bourbon tones. This black ale is about 12% alc. and very rich in roasted and chocolate malt tones. Velvety smooth and able to be aged for years.

The flavor is pretty much a delicious abundance of what was promised by the smell, with an even stronger dark chocolate, burnt roastiness, and a tad of vanilla thrown in. I've been surprised that both Black Magick and this have such a large amount of complexity, including that increasingly rare fig/raisin/plum/date juicy flavor.

I'm also surprised that I've been disappointed with both brews mouthfeel. It looks thick, and maybe I'm mistaken but it's a bit on the good, rather than great, side. Still, one excellent beer. (749 characters)

Bomber from jbwimer. Big thanks! Pours pitch black with a half inch head, super creamy looking and brown. Massive roasty and chocolate aroma with some light oakiness in the background, and maybe a slight bit of dark fruits in there. Flavor is huge roasty chocolates, more roast mid palate, finishing with sweet but not too sweet chocolate sauce. There is a good balancing smoke to this from the roasty grains that makes it to down way too easy. Big rich mouthfeel with medium carbonation that is right on. Would take this over Expedition any day. What a great beer. I can see how this would take well to barrel aging. Nearly perfect non-liquor-barrel-aged impy right here for me. Big, bold, rich flavors and plenty drinkable. (725 characters)

Poured from a bottle in to my Guinness Stout glass. Pours a very dark black color with the perfect head formation. The head did not over form and did not under form was perfect. The Color was a dark chocolate brown color and was thick with body to it. Not sure what else could make this a perfect appearance for stout. The aroma was great and well balanced, the roasted malts released a great malted coffee smell. The flavor is again a well balanced one with the roasted malts producing a great coffee flavor. The cascade hops are there and match well with the malts used. The flavor profile of this brew reminds me allot of a fresh KBS. Brew is greatly smooth and does not ware out your mouth. Drinkability is fine as this brew is tasting but flavors are very strong and being that it is served in a bomber, one and your good to go. Recomend to anyone to try and will try to pick some up when im in PA next time. (960 characters)

Pours a black color with some garnett/brown highlights around the edges. Good brown head with decent retention - light lacing.

The nose and taste are very good. Roasty malts, licorice, oak and vanilla. I'm generally not the biggest fan ever of this flavor profile in a stout, but it works wonderfully here. Absolutely delicious. And the ABV is expertly masked - completely undetectable.

Mouthfeel is on the thin side, but doesn't detract at all. All in all, this is an excellent imperial stout. Instantly became one of my favorites. It doesn't necessarily blow you away in any aspect, but it's very good in virtually every way. The ligher body makes this one of the most drinkable imperial stouts I've ever had. (713 characters)

This is a beer that I had a number of times last winter and this is my first bottle of the season. Poured from bottle into a Sam Smith Imp. pint glass. Poured dark as used motor oil with about 3 inches of dark tan head. Thats leaves a thick lacing on the glass. Strong roasted scents of nuts, chocolate and even a slight woodlike smell. Very aromatic. The taste is very wild and smooth very malt forward and chocolate flavors. But the hops peak through. Creamy, smooth mouthfeel. Very drinkable beer. Alcohol is well hidden jus a faint boozy nature, which is not offensive. Paired great with some homeade Chicken Bruschetta Pasta. (632 characters)

Glad to find this one, so I picked a few up. I went back to get more and it was sold out. Damn. Poured into my new Lost Abbey glass thanks to Matt...

A: Pours a black, but from the name one would suggest this would be blacker. The edges show some brown but the head forms from below to form a nice, solid dark mocha head that leaves a thin film.

S: Wow, tons of complex dark scents. Tons of dark chocolate mixed with an interesting smokiness that fits perfectly. Many dark fruits and cherries in the scents as well followed by bitter roast.

T: Starts with a magnificent smoke flavor followed by dark roast, coffee, chocolate and cherries. The flavors are so complex and in your face that it is hard to get all the flavors out. For being so damn big, the alcohol does not show.

Overall, this is a superb, phenomenal stout. Very big and black, just like it suggests. Glad I have another to enjoy and cellar. (909 characters)

Appearance: The pour isnt as thick as Ten Fidy, Expedition, and the like but its black as black can be with absolutely no light coming through the glass with a one finger mocha colored head

Smell: This right here is how a RIS should smell. A ton of roasted malts and coffee in the forefront along with molasses, chocolate, as well as a hint of alcohol. I already know im going to love the taste.

Taste: Once again plenty of roasted malts and coffee, but the chocolate notes are more prominent in the taste and with the molasses and even slight nuttyness, the result is wonderfully rich and complex flavors.

Mouthfeel: Pretty full bodied, but average for the style; It's amazingly smooth for a 12% beer. So smooth in fact that i wouldve guessed maybe 9%.

Overall: I was expecting greatness with this one, but my mind was blown. Iv had countless RIS and dont say that often. This stout has it all from the pitch black appearance, dark, rich, and complex aromas and flavors of roasted malt, coffee, chocolate, molasses, and nuttyness, and the silky smooth mouthfeel, especially considering the abv. This beer reminds me of and is absolutely on par with my favorite stouts from Founders. In my opinion, it exceeds the hype. Go seek this out and if i were you id even trade for it. (1,282 characters)

A: Dark as dark can be, man! Thick, fluffy brown head which retained almost the entire time. Lost of lacing on the glass as I drank it. At first glance, it almost looks like a fancy expensive coffee drink....but in a good way!

S: Just like it looks. Coffee. Espresso actually. Very toasted-malty, but with a hint of bittersweet. Very smokey.

T: Hints of dried red fruit. Very full bodied, but finished clean. Just the slightest, and I mean slightest hint of alcohol, but what do you expect for 12%, right? Lots of dark chocolate lingers on the palate.

M: Very thick, but not syrupy. Just the right amount of carbonation. Velvety smooth. A "big" beer.

D: Very easy to drink, so definitely take it slow. Probably one of the best stouts I've ever had! (803 characters)

Opaque with a light brown crown that dwindles but never quite leaves.Flawless aroma. An abundance of vanilla with mocha, sweet cream and possibly hazelnut. Both chocolate and coffee play large roles in the makeup of this beer.A woody taste is present in the middle along with some alcohol, and a subtle hop aftertaste is in the finish but so is a coffee ice cream/coffee syrup like sweetness. Mouthfeel is full for the most part but has a slight watery character that is not ideal for an Imperial Stout. A fantastic beer that I will search out in the future. Taste was not as bold as I would have liked but Everything Is In Its Right Place. (644 characters)

Appearance - Pours into my awesome Surly Darkness Tulip with a dark chocolate color that allows no light to get through. About a finger of mocha head is achieved with a moderate pour. Slight lacing is left.

Smell - FULL of bittersweet chocolate, roasty malts, and more chocolate. Wow, smells like coco puffs.

Taste - Burnt, roasted malts up front. Bittersweet chocolate (not as "chocolaty" as I though it would be, which is not a bad thing). Slight hoppy presence, vanilla, oak, coffee, and licorice.

Drinkability - I can't believe this is 12.5%. I actually just went to my refrigerator to make sure instead of relying on the posted ABV on BA (thought it was 10.5% for some reason). No joke, I get no alcohol warming, nor taste. This, being only .5% less than a Bourbon County Stout, is remarkably drinkable. It is a bit sweeter as it warms up and I am really enjoying it. I have heard of this beer but never sought it out. I honestly will now, so I can age one. A very enjoyable beer and a damned good extra. (1,162 characters)

Received in a trade somewhere along the line. Consumed on 10/4/2009 and poured into a snifter. The beer is black with a frothy tan head. Retention is good and some nice lacing is left behind.

The nose heavily roasted with blackstrap molasses, dark chocolate, dark fruits, and just little coffee. Despite the high ABV the alcohol is barely noticeable. There's a touch of sweetness but I wouldn't call it a sweet stout.

The taste opens up roasted and is pretty roasted throughout. Molasses is again evident and that nice low level of coffee (please stay there). Booze is apparent but it's pretty subdued for the near 13% ABV. Dark fruits are noticeable and bitterness is at a low medium level. Roast lingers in the finish and there's a little astringency. The beer is full bodied with a low-medium carbonation level and a thick, creamy, and sometimes viscous mouthfeel. Great stuff. (882 characters)

Poured into a chalice a thick black color, nice carbonation, little fizzy tan head, with some sticky lacing left behind. The nose is malty, with some nice chocolate/toffee notes, with some roast. The taste is very nice, malty, chocolate, slight vanilla, toffee, caramel, slightly roasty. Medium body, not much carbonation going with this brew, the ABV is hidden very well, very nice warming effect, definitely a sipper. Very drinkable, this one is a joy to drink, thanks Adam. (518 characters)

Thanks to some wonderful BA for trading this one - unfortunately, I forgot who it was!Large capped bottle poured into a snifter.

Not quite pitch black, this one show reddish brown highlights on its edges. Light brown head, limited retention and lacing. This is the first batch, so well over one year in my cellar now. The aroma lets a faint hint of oxydation, so if you have a first batch, it might be time to part ways with your possession. Despite that faint oxydation, the aroma is just great; chocolate holds its space above and beyond all, but some fruits, toffee, coffee, molasses make it interesting.Nearly full bodied, the flavor is mostly sweet, although the after flavor in the mouth is bitter. Lots of chocolate, some coffee, roastiness, light dark fruits. Very flavorful, very easy to drink. This one is ready, and it is very good. (849 characters)

T: Starts off with some burnt wood, coffee and dark chocolate flavors. The middle is filled with some sweeter chocolate and vanilla flavors that really balance out the beer. Finishes balanced with a small alcohol taste.

This beer looks fantastic. One finger of light brown head holds for a short period over a very dark body, but it's high ABV justifies the fact that it disappears so quickly. An attractive blanket forms on top and stays until the end. Absolutely fantastic lacing on the sides of the glass.This is an overwhelmingly aromatic beer, with alcohol, pine, bourbon, vanilla, pine nut, coffee, and dark chocolate - so, it goes without saying that it's got a fairly complex nose. Given the smell, I was expecting a bit more flavor but its subtlety is quite nice. Tons of mocha and vanilla, and the maltiness a bit lacking in the fact of the level of coffee bitter. The aftertaste has brown sugar and dark fruit. The body isn't as thick as it could be, but not bad. Good carbonation. What's really nice about this brew is that it has a perfect level of flavor: interesting and full on the palate, but not overwhelming. (923 characters)

This is a great imperial stout - no doubt about it. My wife surprised me with this - I never heard of Voodoo Brewery, but I have now and I will be looking forward to my next tasting. This is one to look for - awesome stuff here. If I was off tomorrow and had a few more of these that would be (in the words of the late Bernie Mac) - good livin', good livin'... (815 characters)

Black as night with a smaller sized mocha head, a heavy ring remained around the glass and left waves of lacing.Smoked aroma, burnt coffee and oak.Bitter chocolate, burnt coffee and woodiness all come through in the taste, good stuff!Rich and creamy full bodied stout.Way easy to drink as the 12% abv is not detectable in the smell or taste, but it will take you to 'your happy place'.

Sam was generous enough to send me 2 bottles of this wonderful beer and I think I'll sit on the 2nd one for a few months, thanks again Sam! (653 characters)

A huge thank you goes out to Frank (Avalon68) for sending me this rare treat that I enjoyed so much at the Extreme Beer Fest last month. This beer is pretty much pitch black in color, but not especially heavy looking. A little less than two fingers of lightly tanned head forms, but eventually subsides in to a ring of lacing. Rich chocolate cake and spicy alcohol begin the aroma, followed by some slight bourbon characteristics and even fainter fruit notes. I cannot emphasize enough the chocolate, sort of reminds me of brownies as well as cake. Taste is mind blowing in that all the above mentioned smells come through in the flavor, but in a much more subdued, elegant way. A bit of coffee and alcohol show up as well, leaving the mouth feeling a bit numb after swallowing. The feeling on this one is not exactly viscous, but certainly creamy enough to put it in the larger category. Prickly carbonation also adds some interesting twists to it in body. After going through three fourths of a glass far too quickly, I can say that this is extremely drinkable, and alcohol barely noticeable. Still, I would be careful, as it does seem to be setting in at a fast pace. All I can say is well done to the Voodoo Brewery. When I tasted this at EBF it was towards the end of the night when my palate was shot to shit. Now I can say when that is not the case that this is a great brew indeed, and one to seek out for sure. A road trip to Pennsylvania right now does not seem like a bad idea. Cheers (1,495 characters)

Malevolent black with miniscule glimmers of polished bronze along the bottom edge of the glass. Roughly two fingers of cappuccino colored cream was created on a controlled pour and takes its sweet time melting. Meanwhile, shredded sheets of suds are starting to be laid down on the upper reaches of the glass.

The nose is splendidly straightfoward American double/Imperial stout. Each sniff delivers a blast of dark chocolate and black coffee, with no liquor notes or hops to get in the way. There may be hints of smoke as well, it's hard to say for sure. Eleven different malts is pretty impressive... and it smells like all of them were put to good use.

Big Black Voodoo Daddy is putting an evil spell on my taste buds. It's pure evil because this outstanding elixir is only available (to me at least) through trading. Thanks mgbickel. It's damned delicious right now and should improve considerably as it continues to warm.

If you like massively malty stouts that bury their alcohol (almost) without a trace, you've come to the right beer. Specific flavors include darkest chocolate, charred coffee beans, black licorice, bitter black tea leaves and a puff of wood smoke. A bourbon barrel-aged version would probably be out of this world.

Chinook, Northern Brewer and Cascade hops provide much more bitterness (65 IBUs to start) than hop flavor. Having said that, citrus rind is beginning to seep in at the edges, especially on the ridiculously long and increasingly tight finish. Alcohol and alpha acids make sure that BBVD is not cloyingly sweet.

As expected, the mouthfeel has settled in over time and gotten comfortable. At the mid-bomber point, it's velvety smooth and is working on some pretty impressive chewiness. Slightly too boisterous bubbles in the first few ounces have calmed down in perfect fashion.

Voodoo's Big Black Voodoo Daddy is the real deal. Despite my earlier desire for a bourbon barrel-aged version, kudos to the brewers for deciding against the bells and whistles and brewing a chocolate-black-roasted-smoked malty American double stout that kicks ass and takes names. Worth seeking out. (2,123 characters)

Enjoyed on 2/2/09 thanks to Jac5084- awesome trader. Poured into a stone 12th anniversary glass. It's thick and black with very little head. Smell is strong dark chocolate up front with sweet malty undertones of toffee and toasty caramel. Taste is similar with strong, bitter dark chocolate dominating initially but then giving way to a pleasant malty sweetness with a slight coffee addition. Lastly, the coffee intensifies but is overtaken by the alcohol which is crisp and subtle, not too harsh. Overall the flavors blend extremely well. One of my new favorites. (564 characters)